Public resources trailer bill.

The California Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee has put forward legislation that would significantly modify state programs spanning environmental protection, public safety, and infrastructure maintenance. The bill authorizes the Natural Resources Agency to partner with nonprofit organizations on constructing a Holocaust memorial at Exposition Park, while expanding uses of the Bay Fill Clean-Up and Abatement Fund to include enforcement activities and technical support.

For underground storage tank compliance, the measure revises loan and grant parameters for small businesses, allowing full cost reimbursement for tank removal or replacement if applications are submitted by mid-2025. The bill increases maximum loan amounts to $750,000 and provides enhanced grant funding of up to $140,000 for qualifying rural fueling stations. Professional forester registration fees would also rise, with application costs ranging from $50 to $600 and annual renewals between $25 and $750.

The legislation directs CAL-FIRE to expand permanent firefighting personnel for hand crew staffing while maintaining seasonal hiring flexibility for emergencies. State park highway maintenance would receive increased support through a new $12 million annual appropriation cap, up from $3.4 million. Additionally, the Department of Water Resources gains authority to contract for habitat restoration projects using performance-based compensation tied to measurable environmental outcomes. The department's groundwater basin reporting requirements would shift from biennial to every five years.

The bill, designated as budget-related legislation, would take immediate effect upon passage and appropriation of funds. Its provisions establish new oversight protocols, adjust fee structures, and modify program requirements across multiple state agencies to enhance natural resource management and public safety capabilities.